Onions

Onions are round vegetables that grow underground. They have thin, papery skin on the outside and many layers inside. Onions have a strong taste and smell that makes food more flavorful. They have been used in cooking for more than 5,000 years.

Why Onions Make You Cry

When you cut an onion, it lets out a gas that floats into the air. This gas reaches your eyes and mixes with your tears. It turns into a tiny amount of acid, and your eyes sting. That is why your eyes start to water. Some people cut onions under cold water to stop the tears.

Types of Onions

There are many kinds of onions to choose from. Yellow onions have a strong taste and are great for cooking. Red onions are purple outside and often eaten raw in salads. White onions are sharp and used in Mexican food. Green onions, also called scallions, are long and thin with a mild taste.

Fun Facts

• Onions were so special in ancient Egypt that people buried them with kings.
• The world's heaviest onion weighed almost 20 pounds.
• People eat about 13 pounds of onions per person each year in America.

Did You Know?

Cooking an onion makes it sweet instead of sharp. The heat changes the parts that make your eyes water into sugars.